The Inhabitants of Machias, not satisfyed with the Quiet they enjoyed whilst a great Part of America was suffering the Inconveniences attendant on War; have thought proper without the least provocation, several Times to invade and ravage the Possessions of their innocent and peaceable Neighbours; (faithful Subjects of the King,) in the Province of Nova Scotia; and likewise had the Temerity last Winter, to invest a Fort in the Bay of Fundy belonging to His Majesty.
Such repeated outrages could not pass unnotic'd & accordingly I thought proper to convince these ill judging and mislead People (the Middle of last Month) that their Harbor was accessible, and their Town at the Mercy of the Men of War, if it was thought necessary to reduce it to Ashes; the Hope Brig therefore after shewing the Inhabitants that She could proceed up to the Town in spite of every opposition they could make was satisfyed with doing Individuals little or no Damage, in the Wish that such cruel and injurious Inroads might never be repeated by them in future. —
The gracious and Benevolent Disposition of His Majesty towards all His Subjects, even his Misguided ones, makes the Kings Officers extremely averse to destroying private Property — this has been manifested upon many Occasions during the Course of this unhappy Rebellion, but more particularly at Machias and Townsend in which Harbors the Kings Ships under my Command lay surrounded with Farm Houses and Plantations, yet not the least damage was permitted to be done to any one. —
In order however that such Lenity & forbearance may be properly understood, as well as to let all His Majestys Subjects in the Eastern parts of New England know, what they have to trust to in future, I think proper to declare, that if any more Preparations shall be made in these Parts for ravaging and invading the Province of Nova Scotia, or that the Inhabitants should be collecting themselves together for such a villainous Purpose the consequence will inevitably be laying in Ashes every House, Mill, Store House, and other Building belonging to them: of which the Inhabitants of Machias, Narraguagus, Goldsborough and all the Neighbouring Places on & near the Sea Coast are to take Notice, besides which they will have their Harbors effectually blocked up by the Ships and Vessels of His Majesty till the end of the present Rebellion. —
With this generous caution before them the Inhabitants of the before mentioned Places, and the neighbouring ones will act as they think proper; but they must remember if they draw down the threatened Punishment that they have nobody to blame for it but themselves. —
And in order by every proper Method to induce the Kings Subjects in New England to live inoffensively and peaceably, I hereby declare that if they do so, his Majesty's Cruizers will have Orders not to injure or molest the Fishermen in their occupation of catching Fish, provided their Vessels carry no Arms, and that the number of Men do not exceed eight in any one of them. —
(A Copy.)
Given on board His Majesty's Ship
Rainbow in the Harbor of Townsend
in New England the 1st Day of Sep-
tember 1777.
To the Inhabitants of Machias, Naraguagus Goldsborough, & the Other Settlements on the Eastern Coasts of New England —
[Endorsed] NB. Their having Permission to Fish, is founded on Lord Howes Orders. — No 1 In Sr G. Colliers Letter dated 9th Octr 1777
